More than $65M worth of drugs seized, 20 people arrested following major Ontario bust
A months-long investigation into an organized group that was allegedly involved in a host of criminal enterprises has led to the arrest of 20 people and the seizure of tens of millions of dollars worth of drugs, police say.
The investigation, dubbed "Project Gateway,” began in the fall of 2021 and involved officers from Peel Regional Police, Niagara Regional Police and the Hamilton-Niagara Detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
In a news release issued on Thursday, police said that through the course of the probe investigators were able to link the group to a host of illegal activity, including smuggling drugs from Mexico and Los Angeles into Canada by transport truck, producing cannabis on a “massive scale,” smuggling people into New York State by boat and employing illegal foreign workers to work at cannabis production sites and to clean chain hotels.
Police say that a number of seizures were made as part of the investigation. One of those seizures saw police recover 45,000 cannabis plants and 20,000 lbs of processed cannabis. The street value of those drugs is estimated at more than $62 million.
Another seizure saw the recovery of a shipment of cannabis that was allegedly destined for Europe. It had a street value of approximately $1.3 million.
Niagara police say that the joint investigation came to a conclusion on Sept. 14 with the execution of a series of search warrants throughout Ontario. The authorities say that 175 police officers from agencies across Southern Ontario and 10 Canada Border Services Agency officers participated in the execution of search warrants in Brampton, Milton, Niagara Falls, Thorold, Etobicoke, Mississauga, Woodbridge, Richmond Hill and Hamilton.
“The cooperation that we have seen throughout this project has been nothing short of remarkable,” Staff Sgt. Matt Hodges, from the Niagara Regional Police Service, said in a video posted to YouTube. “Police agencies from across the province really came together at different stages to react to the flow of evidence and our investigative steps. Without their assistance and cooperation there is no way this project would have even been as close to as successful as I think it was.”
Police say that a quantity of drugs were seized during the execution of search warrants on Sept. 14, as well as three handguns, two shotguns, a rifle, 1,650 rounds of ammunition, six stolen vehicles and $467,000 in cash.
The 20 individuals taken into custody are facing more than 120 charges combined.
“Our goal at the beginning of this was to dismantle and disrupt this organized group and put an end to the behaviour and the scheming that was happening that ultimately leads to violence in our communities, not just here in Niagara but in all the other jurisdictions,” Hodges said. “I think that this project is going to have a profound impact all across the country.”
For a full list of the suspects taken into custody and the charges they are facing follow this link.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Solar storm puts on brilliant light show across the globe, but no serious problems reported
A powerful solar storm put on an amazing skyward light show across the globe overnight but has caused what appeared to be only minor disruptions to the electric power grid, communications and satellite positioning systems.
'My family doctor just fired me': Ontario patients frustrated with de-rostering
Dozens of Ontarians are expressing frustration in the province’s health-care system after their family doctors either dropped them as patients or threatened to after they sought urgent care elsewhere.
'It was violent': Police tear down U of A pro-Palestinian encampment Saturday morning
Multiple people at the protest camp torn down at the University of Alberta campus Saturday say police's actions against protesters were "violent" and "disproportionate."
Potentially toxic chemicals hide in our drinking water and countless household objects, and they're not going anywhere
For decades, North Bay, Ontario's water supply has harboured chemicals associated with liver and developmental issues, cancer and complications with pregnancy. It's far from the only city with that problem.
Canada Post cracks down on Nunavut loophole to get free Amazon Prime shipping
Amazon's paid subscription service provides free delivery for online shopping across Canada except for remote locations, the company said in an email. While customers in Iqaluit qualify for the offer, all other communities in Nunavut are excluded.
'I am angry': Alberta farmers will continue fight over world class motorsport resort
The rolling hills leading to the hamlet of Rosebud are dotted with sprawling farms and cattle pastures -- and a sign sporting a simple message: No Race Track.
Suspect sought after fatal slashing in downtown Toronto
Police are searching for a suspect in a homicide investigation after a man was slashed in downtown Toronto on Sunday.
U.S. aims to stay ahead of China in using AI to fly fighter jets, navigate without GPS and more
When two U.S. fighter jets recently faced off in a dogfight in California, only one was piloted by a human.
'Increased fire activity' expected for Fort Nelson, B.C., blaze
A wildfire near Fort Nelson, B.C., that forced thousands to flee their homes grew almost 800 hectares overnight Saturday, according to officials.